Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-05-26

MISSIONARY LIFE.
Its Romance Illustrated by the Success OF
a Faithful Young Preacher.

MISSIONARY LIFE.
Its Romance Illustrated By the Success OF
a Faithful Young Preacher.
Romance is not all confined to the
past, or to strange countries. Some OF
the most peculiar experiences possible
to man have been those of missionaries
to the American Indians, so recently
that the workers who survived the
hardships and dangers of those days
are still in the prime of their useful
ness. One of these missionaries took
up his work when he was just past his
seminary days, and was assigned to a
tribe of Sioux who were peculiarly wild,
and singularly welded to their savage
customs. Fresh from his studies, and
full of hope and zeal, the young mis-
sionary proceeded on his way. On
quitting the fort which was nearest his
post Of duty, the gates of the stockade
were opened to let him depart by men
who bade him goodbye as they might
bid adieu to one already dead. But the
missionary drove his wagon ten miles
over the wild country, and began to
build his house in the very center of one
of the Sioux camps. Shortly an Indian,
moved by some inexplicable feeling, Of
fered to help him. He raised little
hut, made some furniture, stuffed a
mattress, and prepared to do his own
cooking, all these things being quite
new work for him. Meanwhile, he was
an object of curiosity to these new
neighbors, who might, at any moment,
be moved to bury tomahawk in his
brain. tsas
He had no books, but only stenciled
charts of letters which he made himself,
and with these he set up school. He
had. of course, made himself acquainted
with the Sioux dialect, and he contrived,
by little gifts, to gather in children and
grown people. They liked the hymns
and learned them rapidly, and some
took an interest in reading; but it was
not uncommon for number of wild
savages to rush in and clear the school
! out. ssi eHe
However, the missionary made
friends, and at last built more sub
stantial wooden structure, with bed.
rooms for scholars who should dwell
in the house, and about this time mar
ried wife who came bravely out from
her Eastern home to help him.
II you fancy that the place was que,
and solitary all this while, you are mis-
taken. In their camp-life the Sioux were
seldom quiet, except when sleeping.
Night and day there was noise, tumult
agitation, and the missionary worked as
carpenter and painter, school-teachei
and preacher through it all.
Other white men and women were
added to the mission. A boarding
school was under way, but when clothed
in Christian fashion, provided with
books, and apparently well satisfied
with their condition, some outside in.
fluence would be brought to bear upon
the scholars, and away they would 60
books and clothes and all. The great
est prejudice was against teaching
the girls any thing, and wher
the scruples of few of them were
overcome, others resented it. At one
time an attack was made upon the mis-
sion, two of the teachers murdered, and
the missionary and his wife were
obliged to flee, with their baby, fol
their lives They remained for. some
time in the shelter of the fort, but al
last returned to the mission. TIL,
school was resumed, and this time some
old and venerated chiefs took part witt
the missionary. One saved him from
being murdered by an old squaw, an,
another helped him to drive forth {
number of the scum of the camp wh'
were at their old work of clearing ou
the school. When the Indians became
friendly. so many of them came to din
with the missionary at once that tn
provisions Of the mission were pre-
maturely devoured. Indians expec
unlimited hospitality from all friends
Edally, the missionary and his as
sistants became great favorites amongs
the Indians, who were willing at last t.
be taught to farm; and now well-tille,
fields, good log houses, fences, barns
ETC., are seen in every direction. Man,
of the Sioux read and write, and tn
men have generally given up polygamy
They go to church, send their childrel
to school, and for the most part behav
we'll in the neighborhood of the mission
There are missions. however, wher
life is as exciting and full of danger a
it was in the beginning at the one W
have described. The American Indial
is, no doubt, the most difficult savag
under the sun to civilize,-N T. Ledgey